Amid furore over oxygen-linked deaths, C’garh to audit Covid fatalities

This comes days after opposition parties accused Union minister of state for health Bharati Pravin Pawar of misleading Parliament by saying no state reported such fatalities even as oxygen crisis in part defined the devastation of the second wave

Updated on: Jul 23, 2021, 23:32:09 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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The Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh will audit Covid-19-related deaths amid the controversy over the fatalities caused by the shortage of oxygen during the second wave of the pandemic, state health minister T S Singh Deo said on Friday while insisting the Centre never sought such data.

The decision comes days after opposition parties accused the Union minister of state for health Bharati Pravin Pawar of misleading Parliament by saying no state reported such fatalities. The Congress on Thursday moved a breach of privilege motion against Pawar for allegedly misleading Parliament over the deaths. To be sure, no state has so far said there have been deaths on account of a shortage of oxygen during the brutal second wave of the pandemic in April and May, and while the minister’s statement can be targeted for its insensitivity, it is technically correct.

Deo comments echoed comments of ministers in various states that have maintained that while their own province saw no deaths caused by oxygen shortage, others did. Deo said Chhattisgarh is a state with surplus oxygen, but added that in states such as Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, people died due to lack of oxygen. Deo said the oxygen production capacity of Chhattisgarh is 388.87 MT and the peak consumption reported was 180 MT on April 26.

But the minister added that his government wants to behave responsibly. “So, we are going to audit each and every Covid-19 death. For Chhattisgarh, we are responsible and hence we will... bring out the truth. We are also open for inputs from the citizens.” He asked NGOs, members of civil society, and journalists to bring any relevant information to the government’s notice.

“I also urge the central government to conduct a similar audit,” he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has maintained health is a state subject and that the Centre just collects the data from the states, and does not generate it.

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain this week also attacked the Centre, saying it was “completely false” to say no one died for want of oxygen. “If no deaths occurred due to oxygen shortage, why did hospitals move high court one after another every day? Hospitals had been saying that oxygen shortage led to deaths. The media flagged this issue daily,” Jain told reporters.

The Delhi government has pointed out that it set up a committee to collect data on such deaths but the Centre got the panel disbanded through the lieutenant governor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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